While it’s technically not my first speaking engagement for 2013 (though it is the first public one), I am anticipating xPotomac (Feb. 25 in DC) rather eagerly. With some trepidation as well, but definitely anticipation too.

The topic Geoff asked me to speak on is quite interesting, and one that I’ve ranted expounded on before: social scoring. Here’s a Listly list I’ve pulled together on several of the posts that have run on Waxing UnLyrical over the last few years on social scoring & social media influence:

[listly id=”358″ layout=”full”]

Side note: Some of you are way ahead of me on using Listly. I have only recently started experimenting with it – in part because last year was such a crazy year I didn’t have time to play with and learn about cool new platforms – and so far, at least, I like it very much. If you’ve created neat Listly lists the WUL community and I should know about, please leave the URL(s) in your comment below!

As you can see, I’m not a fan of social scoring, at least the way the majority of people seem to like to use it and talk about it.

Because, when it comes to deciding whether or not I want to get to know you, work with you, have dinner with you, meet you at a conference, etc., I could give a rat’s behind as to what your ____ score is (I don’t want to beat up on any one platform in particular, I’ve done that enough already).

Where does real influence come from?

The people you know and trust; or know of enough to trust because the people you do know say they’re good eggs.

I’ll say it again: “the people you know and trust.” And no matter how truly influential someone is (in real life, I mean) there are people they know and trust who have abysmal social scores.

For example, do you think Michelle Obama cares what social scores her best friend(s) have? They’re probably not even on Twitter.

Which is why the increasing reliance of firms and brands on high social scores as predictors of how successful their campaigns or efforts will be, if they are able to engage those with said high scores, continues to worry and exasperate me. Because without context, those numbers – even if you take them as completely representative of a person’s influence, which they’re not – mean nothing.

For example, Ann Wylie influences me on the topic of writing and communication, because I’ve met her (I adore her), she has proved that she owns her craft, and therefore, I trust her. And her social score will not give you anywhere near a true value of her influence on people like me.

However… we live in a world which is growing explosively. Perhaps because of our collective rate of growth, we have no option but to look at each other more and more as numbers, or statistics, or ratios.

Because we do. How many of us have never had a thought such as one of these, or one that’s similar:

X is more likely to help me get a better job than Y, therefore I should pay more attention to X.

G put me on her top 50 list of blogs, so I’m a rockstar.

Since T has a ____ score of 58 and mine is 65, I’m better.

What’s the reality behind such thoughts?

#1: If that’s the only reason you pay attention to people, then you’re a D-bag and don’t deserve any help.

#2: You may/may not be a rockstar, but your work will define that. List are subjective. What makes G an authority?

#3: Idiot.

Adding context and community

I do think social scoring has a place in our marketing efforts; just not the only one. Use it as one factor in determining who you’re going to reach out to. Use it to help you narrow down the areas people are influential in (but do the rest of your homework as well). Use it as part of your strategy but not as your measure of success.

And if/when social scores are going to help, it will be a) if you already have a smart strategy into which you’re incorporating social scoring, and b) when your “citizen influencers” don’t just create volumes of content but are able to effect action among their communities.

In a recent guest post for PRSAY, I wrote that I think 2013 is the year we are going to see increasing adoption of community management principles and methodologies in the field of public relations. Social has become such a crowded medium, we simply have to find a way to cut through the noise.

And what does that mean?

That we’ll depend more and more on our communities to help get the word out… which means that the community – comprised of people with low and high social scores – is what is going to start becoming truly influential.

Now, three things:

1. I would love to chat with you on the subject, so if you’re in the DC area on Feb. 25, come spend the day with us at xPotomac, at the Source Theatre. Tickets are moving steadily, and with a capacity of only 114 (seriously, this isn’t a fake number), the event should sell out soon. And there are people far smarter and more interesting than me speaking, such as Andrew Keen, Vanessa Fox and Dino Dogan.

2. Geoff Livingston, who also recently co-authored Marketing in the Round with Gini Dietrich, will be the guest on tomorrow’s #measurePR Twitter chat (12-1 pm ET). So if you have questions for him, please can you leave them in the comments below?

3. What do you think? Do you think I’m on the right track? What is your opinion of social scoring? And don’t forget to share your Listly links in the comments, please!

Founder and publisher of Waxing UnLyrical, Shonali Burke helps purpose-driven brands bring big ideas to life. She teaches at The Johns Hopkins University, has gone back to school herself with the Harvard Business Analytics Program, and is creator/lead instructor at The Social PR Virtuoso® online training hub , where ambitious PR pros learn how to unleash their inner Social PR superheroes. Owned by Lola the Basset Hound, she's mad about ABBA, bacon, cooking, dogs, and Elvis, though not necessarily in that order. Wouldn't you like to be in her kitchen?

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